# data[].attributes.body
Summer 2020 was one the best summers yet. Due to quarantine, no one really had much to do, so that invited more time for me to spend with my friends and family. I would see my friends almost everyday of the summer and because of the Corona guidelines we spent all of our time outside. It was really fun because we had to get creative with what we could do safely. We spent a lot of the summer swimming and just doing things that weren’t super chaotic, and that's why it was so fun. One specific time during the summer was really enjoyable. Me and my friends woke up at 4:00 am and decided to drive to the beach to see the sunrise. We made a stop at Dunkin Donuts, and drove to a beach in Marshfield, MA. It was so fun as we drove with the windows down and music playing.  Once we got to the beach, the sunrise wasn’t as good as expected, but it didn’t matter, it was still so fun to just be there. We spent a few hours at the beach and by the time we left it was still pretty early in the day. On the way back we decided to make the drive longer. We got bagels at a local bagel shop and then decided to drive into Boston. We didn’t get out of the car to allow the trip to remain covid safe, but it was still so fun. By the time we got back home, we decided to reconvene later that day. Later in the day we just went swimming and got food. That was one of the best days of the summer.

# data[].attributes.body
In summer 2018, we adopted a tiny kitten, who was dubbed Watermelon by my siblings choice. She was a playful and snuggly kitten, especially with me. After about one week, she started to stop eating and drinking, so we took her back to the vet. They told us that she had fluid in and around her heart and lungs and because she was so small that she didn't have long. After that, we had to sit with her daily and make sure that she ate something and give her water with a syringe. Then not even a week later she got really bad. She started to not be able to move, only lay on the cushion in her space. There was one day when I was home alone with her. I sat by her for almost the whole time to make sure that she was ok and comfortable. I picked her up and put her on my lap, and noticed that she was stiff and wasn't drinking any of the water I tried to give her. Then she slowly stopped moving and breathing in my lap. I was very upset, and it wasn't helped by the fact that I was alone in the house. At least the fact that she was loved and comfortable when she passed made me feel better. She was one of the cutest and smallest pets I've ever had, and I miss her so much.

# data[].attributes.body
I started going to overnight camp in 2014. And every summer since, that’s where I have been, and that’s where I will continue to go. Camp has brought me to my closest friends who will be in my life forever. The activities I’ve done, the people I’ve met, and the memories I’ve made there will always hold a special place in my heart. I remember a time a few summers ago where the entire camp was participating in a color war. There were four different teams, all competing in different events in order to achieve victory. These teams were made up of campers of all different ages, genders, and ability levels. I was put on the white team, and only knew around five people out of the 100 on my team. Nevertheless, we fought to win just as hard as if we knew everybody. At the end of the four day “war,” all of the campers and staff gathered around the baseball field as the administration calculated the scores and was about to declare a winner. The whole camp got quiet, and the director screamed, “The winner is white!!” Everyone on my team got up and screamed, all of us cheering in a unified manner, hugging people we grew to become friends with, and celebrating with the people that helped us achieve victory. At that moment, I still didn’t know most of my team, but it didn’t matter. I left with more friends than I came in with, and a bond grew over the team. That’s the magic of camp. It allows you to meet new people and create friendships you didn’t even know were possible. So it’s not necessarily a person that has been the most influential in my life, but it’s a place that I am lucky enough to call my second home.

# data[].attributes.body
The summer of 2020 quite possibly could have been the best summer of my life so far. During the start of quarantine it was a bit rocky because no one really knew what was going on. But towards the middle and end of the summer that's when things really started to heat up. Me and my friends were able to hang out almost everyday. We would meet up at 11 AM and sometimes hang out until 8PM. During the summer me and my friends basically did everything together and I got to create some of the closest bonds with my friends.

# data[].attributes.body
Many people have made great influences and positive impacts on my life but the person I want to talk about is my dad. My dad started playing lacrosse in eighth grade. He quickly gained talent and a great love for it. After high school, he moved on to play at Syracuse and earned a spot on the US national team. My dad cherished the great love and friendships that come from a team and he decided to share the special gift of lacrosse with me. He taught me to play around 1st or 2nd grade. Funny story, I absolutely hated it at first, but my dad wanted me to stick with it, so he payed me $50 for my first two seasons. I grew to love the sport, and my dad figured that out so unfortunately, the cash stopped rolling in. From my very first day of town lacrosse to my last, he coached me as well as taught my teammates and I many life skills that I will use for the rest of my life. Through lacrosse he taught me that when you work hard especially when no one is watching,  you won’t always have someone to cheer you on but in the end you will always be rewarded for your hard work and come out victorious. He taught me to be future focused and to quickly forget the mistakes I make, because you can’t change the past but you have the power to change the future. My dad introduced me to one of the greatest joys of my life and I will be forever grateful.

# data[].attributes.body
Someone who I’ve looked up to my whole life is my grandfather. As a young boy, he grew up in Germany and was fortunate enough to escape to the U.S. during the Holocaust. He is the most kind, loving, and funny person I know. Everything about him is positive and I have never once seen him try to put someone else down. He has the best outlooks on life and he has definitely passed them down to me. He is also one of the most active people I know, that is something I admire about him a lot. Despite being 85, he still works a 5 day week, does yard work, and goes to the gym 3 times a week. My whole life he has been very inspirational to me and I hope I grow up to be just like him. One thing he always says is “Life’s too short to not be happy.”

# data[].attributes.body
This picture I took is all about winter. The snow on the ground and on the trees and the temperature being below freezing is what winter is all about. Winter is a very important season for me because it's the season when you can ski. I have been skiing since around 3rd grade and I have always enjoyed it. Spending the winter going to upper Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and sometimes Maine is always very fun and a reason I look forward to the winter time. Even though it may be cold, it's worth it because of the snow and the sports that you can do. In the picture, this is what I want winter to look like, the ideal winter. Temperatures low enough to be good for snow but not too cold that is unbearable, and the ground covered in snow. Also, winter is a season which the sport indoor track is in. As a runner, indoor track is a great sport to do during the winter. Even though it's cold out, it's still worth it to get over the cold in order to do running. Even though the winter time is coming to an end soon, I'm glad we had a good winter with enough snow in it. I got to do skiing and running, sports which I enjoy doing a lot.

# data[].attributes.body
Years ago I was trying to play some different sports.  Although I was never the best on my team I still wanted to keep playing because it was fun to me.  In the off season this year, I have worked hard to get faster, stronger, and quicker on my feet.  I remember when one time, the person that was helping me with this conditioning said a quote that I remember to this day whenever I feel too tired to complete something.  He looked at me on the first day and he said "Just because you're more tired than the person next to you doesn't mean he's better, it just means you are working harder."  This really stuck out to me because the harder I worked, the easier everything came to me, and the more tired I get, the better I feel when I'm done.

# data[].attributes.body
The most influential person in my life is my dad. One thing we do every year is go to the cape and go deep sea fishing to get fresh fish to cook. My dad is always the one to plan the trip and book everything, and will put his job aside to take us for a week or two. It's always nice to get to go to the beach and chill out during the final weeks of summer.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

# data[].attributes.body
Sports were always important for me. From a young age, my parents would sign me up for almost every sport out there. But basketball was different. I wasn’t great at it, and I don’t play it any more, but it is still a hobby. I loved the game, and the pros who played it. But one player stood out. Kobe. He was amazing at the game, a perfect player. The way he played made it look like there was no one there. He was alone in the gym, just shooting from wherever and making all his shots, even when the entire other team was guarding him. But it wasn’t just his skill that was inspiring, it was his mindset. Mamba mentality, what separates the great from the good. He had it, no, he created it. Scoring 81 points against pro level defense, constantly keeping games close even when his teammates were bad, and working out for hours on end, and then going on to play in games completely rejuvenated, even though they happened on the same day, all could be attributed to his mindset. He inspired people to be better, told them how not to fail. “If you’re afraid of failure, you’re probably going to fail.” He knew that success and failure was mostly determined by preparation, and he preached it. He inspired us to be better, and showed us how good we can be.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create stunning social graphics - in seconds.

# data[].attributes.body
4 years ago, I started producing and mixing my own music. I've been involved with music for a few years and I'm quite good at it. I've accumulated 100,000+ streams on songs I've produced which is interesting. I've been able to design my own website and now I'm able to sell for profit. Transitioning from genre to genre is hard but it’s helpful to know how to do different things.

# data[].attributes.body
A year ago I got a guinea pig and I also got a second one that same year because since guinea pigs are very social animals they need a companion. So I went to the pet store to get a friend for my other guinea and I came upon a guinea pig that caught my attention, she had very messy hair and it was funny looking, so I picked her and took her home with me. Instantly my other guinea pig became  great friends with her. I decided to name her Nutmeg because of the colors of her fur and the other S'mores. At first Nutmeg was very a feisty and a grumpy guinea pig and she was scared of me but that was normal for any other guinea pig when they meet someone new. So I played with her everyday, I gave her cuddles so she can get used to me and soon she started to get used to me. It was pretty normal for a few months but that was until I started to notice her front feet were swollen and it was kinda giving her a hard time to walk so I decided to take to the vet and they gave me antibiotics for her. So I fed her medicine everyday and I dipped her feet in saltwater which helps relieves it. She was getting better and then three days later, I noticed her eyes were half closed, they were watery and she had a dried snot on her nose. She hid in the corners and I tried to feed her bell peppers which was her favorite, she didn't eat them, she wasn't drinking water as well. My other guinea pig also noticed she was not doing very well.I tried feeding her water through a syringe but she only drank a little bit. She looked very weak, she became skinny and she wasn't very active. I was gonna take her to the vet but they were closed that day. A couple days later I went thrifting and when I came home,  my dad told me that around 1:30 pm that she passed away in her sleep. She took her last breath and peacefully passed away and I cried. I never expected she would die that day. I was really sad and cried a lot and it was just really hard for me to accept. My family and I buried her in my backyard. I still think about her to this day.

# data[].attributes.body
Every year on Thanksgiving, me, my sister, my cousins, and my grandma all go to a soup kitchen in Framingham to feed the homeless. We all started to go around four or five years ago and have gone ever since. When my grandma first brought up the idea of going, we were all very interested and excited at the same time. We thought it was an amazing opportunity to help people and need and we couldn't wait. My love for the experience gets stronger each year I go because it makes me and my family very happy to know that we are helping others.  Now, every time that Thanksgiving comes around, me and my family always talk about how we are extremely thankful that we get to help others that unfortunately don’t have a Thanksgiving dinner or a roof over their head. My Grandma is one of the people that inspires me the most because of all the amazing things she has done for me and my family. She puts forth endless support for people in need and she is truly inspiring.

# data[].attributes.body
Almost 4 years ago my family decided to adopt our dog, Charlie. We went on a family hike and decided to look somewhere after to adopt a dog. We saw a truck with 5 dogs that were looking to be adopted. It was so sad seeing how the dogs were petrified of  traveling in the truck with the other dogs. They were barking at each other and crying because they were so afraid. Me and my sister spotted a Chihuahua mutt that we thought was really cute. We decided to take him for a walk and see what it would be like to have a dog. He was shaking because of how scared he was from the other dogs in the truck. Me and my sister then decided we could not let him suffer anymore. After talking to my parents, we convinced them to let us get him. Now, he is so calm and has learned to love living in a house. We are so lucky to have brought him home then!

# data[].attributes.body
Over this summer, I went on a road trip to Michigan for a week. My cousins and I stayed at Grandpa’s house and spent our days outside. There was never a dull moment; tubing, swimming, playing Uno, frisbee, we filled up our days with fun. Each morning, we were greeted by cinnamon rolls and cartoons, like little children once again. This was a special trip because it gave us a sense of normalcy during a time that was far from normal, yet it also never would have happened if it wasn’t for the pandemic since we usually just go to Minnesota. On our last night, Grandpa took us on a sunset cruise on his pontoon boat. We saw the prettiest pink hues reflected on the water, and watched until the sky faded to blue. Soon, the full moon was rising above us, and it was time for our lantern ceremony. We’d been waiting the whole trip to use Grandpa’s last lantern, and it was finally the night. You could just feel it in the warm air. My cousin and I held the thin paper up as the boys lit the lantern, and soon the light started to rise. We dedicated the lantern to relatives who had gone before us, and watched as it reached the moon and beyond. This was the farthest one had ever traveled without dying out, and it was still going. I watched the beacon of light as it turned into a star far, far away. However distant it may be, I know it’s always out there, somewhere in the universe.

# data[].attributes.body
There are few things more satisfying than when I finally finish a project I’ve been working on and share it with someone and it makes them happy. This often applies to my hobby of filmmaking. The greatest personal silver lining I have found in this pandemic is the right combination of free time and boredom that leads to creativity. While I was in the middle of an overly ambitious, self-serious, long-term project at the beginning of the shutdown, it required collaboration with people who I wouldn’t be able to collaborate with due to the pandemic. So, at the suggestion of a family member, my younger brothers and I decided not to sweat the production quality and to make something that would make our family laugh. Since, I have made an effort to keep creating, trying new things, and finding opportunities to make myself and others happy with my filming.

# data[].attributes.body
7 years ago I put on skis for the first time. My sister and dad had been going skiing for a few years, and for the first time, had convinced me to try it. For February vacation, we went to Killington Vermont during that one winter where we got blizzard after blizzard. On my first day skiing, the thing I struggled with most was ski walking. On my second day, I went from the bunny hill to an easy green circle, but I fell off the side into a few feet of powder. I was stuck there for a few minutes until I finally got up. On the last day, I refused to go skiing, and I hung out with my mom in the hotel. I was afraid that I would fail. Since then, I overcame my fear and today, skiing is my favorite activity. I look forward to Winter every year because of it and one day I want to go back country skiing on a huge mountain in Utah. Skiing has taught me not to be afraid of failure. Now I spend much of Fall watching ski films on YouTube. I found a quote in one of those films that inspired me. It is now one of my favorite quotes. “I’d rather die living than not get the chance to live.” Although extreme, the message itself is clear and it has taught me to live in the moment.

# data[].attributes.body
My family got a cat right after we moved, when I was 8 years old. Me and my brother always wanted a cat ever since we were little. Kyza was a small black cat and was very shy when we first got him, but he quickly became used to our house and family, and quickly grew to an adult. We started letting Kyza outside, watching over him at first to make sure that he wouldn’t run away, but then we got comfortable with him being outside and we started letting him out whenever he wanted. Kyza would go outside whenever he wanted and would usually come back whenever he was hungry. We didn’t let him outside when it was dark out, in fear that some coyote could be hungry and on the loose. Then one day when we let him outside, he did not come back. We waited a couple days but he never came. We called some animal shelters to try and see if we could find him there but it was no use. After a week we accepted that he was not coming back. It was unexpected that we were going to just lose him with no warning, no goodbye, no nothing. After he left, I realized to be thankful for everything I have as you never know when you could lose something or someone. I realized that anything could happen at any moment, without a proper goodbye.

# data[].attributes.body
My cousin is definitely someone I look up to. She has down syndrome but to her it’s just a normal part of her life. She is the kindest and the sweetest person ever and she looks at everything optimistically. When she says something she always means it, like when she writes birthday cards she always has something amazing to say about you and you know it’s genuine. She never forgets anyone's birthday even though we have a very big family and she always makes sure she makes a card for them. Because of her down syndrome, it makes it harder for her to do normal things but when she wants to do something and her mind is made up, you know she’s going to do it.

# data[].attributes.body
The person that inspires me the most in this world is my dad. Growing up he would tell my sister and I the story about his childhood which went into detail about how he came from nothing. My father was an immigrant and worked hard everyday to be as successful as he is today. He would always tell me “Hard work brings success” and that was the motto he lived by throughout his years to get to where he is now.  My dad worked his butt off in school and then everyday would go to work for many hours just to help support his family and pay his way through college. Everything he has today is because he worked hard to get it. He inspires me so much because he has worked so hard for everything just to give my sister and I a much better childhood than he had.

# data[].attributes.body
A few summers back, my youngest cousin told me about during his summer break he used to go to a once a four week day camp. His camp would travel by foot to do different activities around the city. They had this activity they would do every week called “the morning walk” where they would go to a small park and play for a few minutes before discussing what they would do that day. But the second time they went to this park, they met an old man sitting on a weak bench. My cousin and his friends noticed a flock of pigeons were flying around the old man, and walked up to him to see what was going on. The saw he had a bag of bread and was breaking it off and throwing it to the pigeons. My cousin asked “hey, sorry to bother you but what are you doing?” The old man responded saying,

“When I was about your age, I would come to park every afternoon to feed the pigeons. But I eventually moved to another state and never came here until now. Son, make sure you cherish your youth, and stay close to your friends and family. Sometimes you don’t realise how important they are to you until they are out of your reach”. My cousin answered back to the man and said

“Oh ok we will”.
For the next two weeks they went to the same park, and never saw the man again sitting on that bench.

# data[].attributes.body
Almost 7 years ago my family had gotten our dog, Dillon. Ever since the beginning, I felt that he was my dog. As many people say, “the dog chooses the person, the person does not choose the dog,” I 100% agree with this statement. Our family went into the rescue shelter with a certain dog in mind but when we got in there Dillon decided to just hop onto my lap and fall asleep. My family had a dog other than Dillon in mind and they tried to play with him, but the connection was really between Dillon and our family. This is how we knew that he was the one, and he lived a great life. He always loved the snow and loved being with people. All of us just said that Dillon was part human, he could never be alone. Wherever we were in the house he would always come find us and cuddle up next to one of us. Unfortunately at the beginning of this year my dog was diagnosed with cancer. He was continuously bleeding and we were told that he would not have much longer to live. However we did get him back from the hospital for about 2 weeks before we had to say goodbye.. Those two weeks were very special to me because I would always spend it with him, I would sit on the floor and eat every meal next to him. We had seen none of this coming because Dillon looked like a very healthy dog, but this helped me learn to enjoy every moment, because you really never know when it is going to be time to say goodbye. I miss him so much now, but I know that he is in a better place now and the thought of that is helping me through this tough time.

# data[].attributes.body
A cloudy sky eclipses a shining sunset. Crisp air surrounds a docked boat at the edge of the shoreline. In the distance is a blur of black-green pine trees motionless in the solemn air. A young boy and his grandmother sit at the edge of the dock, watching the water ripple over itself, distorting the landscape of bright pink clouds and a yellow glow from the far side of the water. They sit and wait until the sun completely fades over the abundance of trees. The bright sunset dims into a dusky array of small white stars. “If you could go one place right now, where would you go?” the grandmother asked. The boy peered over the water and saw his reflection before the sky turned pitch black, “here.”

# data[].attributes.body
My parents made me get confirmed, something I didn’t really want to do as I had never felt a connection to church or God before. And as I went to the church every Wednesday night to go to confirmation, I felt more and more confident in the religion I was so ready to let go of completely. This was all because of the youth pastor, Pam. Pam was kind to all of us even if we didn’t believe, and didn’t have faith. She led us through the confirmation process as if we were her own family, because to her, we were. It was this love and community that started to build my faith and is what I credit my faith in God and religion in, now. 

# data[].attributes.body
My brother is the person who inspires me the most. He is a kid who has struggled with self-esteem issues since he was 5 and was often extremely shy when interacting with kids and adults he didn’t know well. He had been diagnosed with consistent depressive moods, and has had trouble focusing on his school assignments as well. He is part of the IEP(Individualized Education Program) at Brown Elementary School, and has been measured with some degree of ADHD. These circumstances, alongside having moved from India to America halfway through his schooling, I am proud of the person he has evolved into today. After years of hard work and some doctor-prescribed medications, he has slowly been able to write and talk more openly with other people. He can share his math multiplication facts without any degree of doubt or self-questioning, and can even solve basic single variable equations. With help from the family and I, he is currently attending Brown Elementary School in the hybrid model of learning and performing well in the IEP program. I think the most inspiring thing for me has been his ability to read a book for long periods of time. From a kid who would struggle to hold a conversation, he has shown great courage and persevered through the routine stresses and expectations that you and I could probably shrug off while also complaining.  I feel like people often wait for the “right” circumstances and/or situation for themselves to engage with their goals. They wait until they “feel” like doing something, not actively pursuing their goals. My brother’s life path, however,  has caused me to develop a great deal of respect for him: A child born within imperfect circumstances, forced to adapt to an already harsh world, having to fight courageously to make sure he fits socially with his peers, and someone who has had to work hard to be “able” to read a book. Consequently, in my eyes, my brother’s always reached for that which he cannot achieve, but he has far surpassed his expectations as a result.

# data[].attributes.body
I always pressured myself to be good. When my teammates and opponents asked why I took losses so hard on myself I told them that I didn’t like failure. I always pushed myself to the limit in competitions and in practice and whenever I failed, I was tipped off, I was a ticking time bomb just waiting to go BOOM! After I made 1 error in the biggest tournament of the season, I got benched, yet while I watched all of my other teammates mess up and get boosts of confidence and “don’t worry, you’ll get him next time” from the coaches, I felt horrible. I felt as if I had been treated differently. I felt as if that 1 error had ruined everything. As if my error cost them a championship when it was just a group play match. But why? Why were my standards from them so much higher than the rest? I guess we will never know.

# data[].attributes.body
On New Years Eve, I spontaneously got the urge to make minced meat pies, which are a traditional British dessert associated with Christmas. Since no regular grocery store carries minced meat, my sister and I rushed over to World Market on the way to lacrosse practice, which has a section in the back with the coolest international foods. To my disappointment, it turned out the minced meat had been removed from the shelves the day before, as they were a Christmas food and were being cleared out for 2021. However, two positives came from the trip. First, the store still carried Lyle’s Golden Syrup, another British dessert staple for making treacle tart, which I made that evening. Plus, at the checkout line, there were the cutest Bob Ross themed-mints. They made me so happy that I had to take a picture and share it with my friends.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create stunning social graphics - in seconds.

# data[].attributes.body
The person who inspires me most in this world is my friend Malik. Once quarantine began and we were all forced to stay home, him and I began to talk more and get closer with one another. Over time quarantine really started to get to me and I began to experience extreme feelings of anxiety, and I also began to feel very insecure. Over the past six months Malik has been there for me through all my struggles, and has helped me not only develop ways to deal with my anxiety, but also realize that I don’t need to look like a celebrity in order to be pretty.

# data[].attributes.body
Since I remembered myself, I've always wanted a dog. I tried to convince my parents for years, and finally, after around 10 years we got a dog, a beagle. Even though I didn't want to get a beagle, or a female dog, I still love Nessa more than any dog in the world. She likes doing anything that is outside the house, like running, chasing leaves or just lay outside. When she gets home, her favorite thing to do is to sit on the couch, and look outside the window facing the street. She likes looking at people passing by, squirrels, cars etc. Nessa is the best thing that happened to me during the pandemic, and I absolutely love her.

# data[].attributes.body
Summer 2020 was the best time i've ever had. Everyday I would hangout with my friends from 11 am to 11 pm we would do everything together and I met some of my best friends. We would play basketball, go swimming, go to rope swings, jump of bridges into water, and just hangout. One day we all went to cape cod together and we were at the beach all day It was really fun another reason why summer 2020 was really fun is because I made the team I had been working hard for to make for 7 years I was so excited when I found out I made it. And although it was my favorite summer ever It could have been much better if corona was not happening there were many things we couldn't do because of corona but altogether it was a great time and I wish summer 2020 could still be happening.

# data[].attributes.body
My photo represents my basketball journey. As a kid growing up from the age of four through six, I’d always play basketball every once in a while, shooting around was really all it was though. As I went into first grade though, that all changed. First grade, I remember that being the second month back in school from summer vacation, I never did anything much during recess and would just walk around and that was about it. I remember that one day though, the day that basketball was the thing that made me who I am today. My friend Ben, who I am still great friends with today, asked me if I wanted to join the pickup basketball game that they had going on during recess. I was a bit timid at first but after rethinking it and some convincing done by him, I had finally been put into the game. And of course I do not remember the smallest of details, but with an event that big, I can still remember what it felt like, who was playing, and almost like a photographic memory for some of the moments during that game. But when it was all said and done, I knew I had a passion for the game that I never knew existed. I wasn’t playing just like any other kid that was on that court. I was playing like the other two best players at the time. At the end of the game I finished with the second most points out of all of us all and I knew that this was meant to be. As soon as I got home that day I did not wait to tell my mom that I wanted to get serious with playing basketball. And ever since then is why I am at the level I am at today. From that pickup game, to playing in the YMCA, rec, travel, aau, and school teams, it has all been a growing and learning experience. As I age every day I grow more and more passion, drive, determination, and discipline to get better. The work is nothing new to me and my standards are always infinity, by looking at others we often bring our expectations down to that level and can never really meet our true potential, but with my knowledge and dedication to the game, there is truly no limit to how far I can make it with this, but I do know for sure that I will indeed surpass that barrier.

# data[].attributes.body
The dog is the photo is my dog Leonard. We got him almost six years ago and he is very lively and energetic. He is always barking at chipmunks and other animals outside out huge living room windows and I feel like one day he is going to break one of them. He is super fun to play with and really seems like he has a human personality. He also forces me to get outside and walk him when i’m being lazy. Leonard definitely cheers me up and makes me feel better when i’m feeling sad. When we first saw him at the shelter, I knew we had to get him. There was another family that was on the waiting list but they never showed to we were able to adopt him.

# data[].attributes.body
My older sister, is the person who inspires me the most. She works hard every day and has a rock hard mindset. Not only this, but (her being my older sister) she has always had my back and watched out for me… even now when we are older, she still looks out for  me with just as much purpose as when we were younger.

# data[].attributes.body
During a hockey game I was hit into the boards where I was carted off the ice and brought to a hospital. When getting to the hospital the doctors and nurses put me into immediate surgery on my right arm as my humorous had broken right in half. The bone had been lodged onto my nerves and taking away blood flow through my system. The surgery was successful, but my recovery would be a long time. I spent two nights in the hospital as well as a month with zero feeling in my arm, 5 months of physical therapy, and a whole 2 years until full recovery. The road to recovery was hard and it changed my perspective on the simple things in life, but I got through it and I am back to living a normal life again today.

# data[].attributes.body
After the passing of my grandmother my family was really sad for a long time. We tried lots of things to cope but nothing really seemed to work. One day I was surfing the internet and I saw a website from a local breeder saying that she has lots of dogs available. Of course I was curious and had always wanted a dog so I clicked on it because the puppies were too cute to pass up on. After a little bit of searching I showed my parents and the finally decided to go check out the newborns. They were so cute. We filled out many papers but were finally able to bring a little puppy back home with us. She was a girl and we decided to name her Jetty (like the long line of rocks at the beach). She helped us through our grieving from the loss and she  is overall the best thing that’s ever happened to my family and she always helps us when we need her to.

# data[].attributes.body
My Dad inspires me the most in the world. As an Iranian, his childhood was the beginning of the Iranian revolution and Iran Iraq War, his story intrigues me. He was born youngest of two sons and one daughter. The summer after his senior year he was forced to move due to the ongoing war in the country. He traveled on foot to Turkey, there he  spent the next 5 months. In those months he evaded police corruption and lived with family members who helped him cross the border. From then on he continued his journey through Europe to meet up with his parents in Montreal. His journey shows me that anything is possible and to be grateful for all you have.

# data[].attributes.body
I am writing about my parents because they are my number one inspiration. They deal with me and my two older sisters every day and they’ve always taken care of us no matter what. This picture was taken when we went to Rhode island and it was a really fun day. Spending time with my parents and family is always a huge reminder to me that they are always there for me and that family is an important part of my life. Saying that my parents are my inspiration is a little cliche but knowing that they raised me and care for me, it is the hardcore truth. 

# data[].attributes.body
During the summer of 2018, I experienced something of a lifetime. My friend and her family flew from Vancouver, Canada, to enjoy the summer with us. After a couple of weeks, my parents got a RV, and we decided to go down to Pennsylvania, which took about 7 or so hours, and it was so hot but so funny to talk to everyone. We went to Hershey Park which was AMAZING, and we stayed there for a couple of days. Then, we decided to head up to Niagara Falls, which took another 7 or so hours, which was full of boredom and humidity. But Niagara Falls was amazing, the view, the water, and the Canadian view from America looked amazing. I couldn’t have spent a better summer in 2018. Traveling for hours, upon hours, in a house on wheels.

# data[].attributes.body
The most important person in my life is my Gran. Throughout my life, I've had the opportunity to meet many people who have helped mold me into the person I am today. But there's one person who I know I couldn't live without their presence, and therefore is the most important person in my life. This person will do anything she can for me, gives me much needed advice, and has taught me a lot about life. She's my Gran, or as my cousins and I call her, Gran. She's been apart of my life since I was born, but I needed her more and more with age. She knows I need her, for our talks, rants about the BAchelor, and early mornings watching the sunrise. I gravitate towards her when I think of the most influential person in my life because I would not even be close to the person I am today without her.

# data[].attributes.body
May 31, 2020 I attended my first protest. As I’m sure you’ve heard on the news, this started because of George Floyd. A black man, brutally murdered by a white police officer who kneeled on his neck for 8 minutes and 49 seconds. Although we were and still are in the midst of a global pandemic, it didn’t stop the 20,000 of us from marching for our lives. Black women, men, and children are being killed off systematically and they deserve justice. It was a great experience and I’m glad that I went. I felt great to be surrounded by so many people who were fighting for the same thing and I’d do it again and again if it meant change.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Justice Protest Layered Photo and Text Collage

# data[].attributes.body
For the past 5 and a half years I’ve spent a whole lot of time drawing digitally, it started as an accident, I just needed some sprites for a SCRATCH project, but ever since then I’ve been doing tons and tons of digital art. I draw nearly every day. I’ve made friends who are also digital artists, people I’ve never met in person, but who I talk to every day. We critique each others work, and talk about our interest, and help each other grow and learn, like true friends. Digital art brought me into a whole little internet world.

(I hope its okay that its not a traditional "photo" image)

# data[].attributes.body
One of the saddest moments of my life was when my great grandma died. I remember hearing about it that morning, and even though I didn’t cry much, it really effected me because just a few weeks before, my cousins and I visited her and we had played board games with her, and she had always won.  It really puts into perspective how quickly someone can be taken away.

# data[].attributes.body
I reflect on why my parents named me what they did. My name means smile and i believe my parents did this was intent. Though many questions went through my head as a kid. Was it because they like the way it sounded? Was it because they didn't have any other names? Maybe there was a reason why they wanted another child. Maybe there was meant to be a purpose behind me being born. Hopefully I can make my parents proud and follow in the footsteps of my name. I hope to spread positivity and love. I like to find happiness in daily things because life is precious. Every meal you receive you should reflect on the time and effort put into putting the meal together.

# data[].attributes.body
I have this one Hollister sweatshirt that I used to wear a lot. It was cozy and comfortable so I had no reason not to wear it. It got to the point where my friends would just associate the brand with me.  If they saw someone else wearing Hollister, they would call them out to me and make a joke about it. They even started  calling Hollister stores “ Joel’s House”. I loved the joke and happily played along with it. One time we were at the mall and passed by a store and so to go along with the joke, I stopped in front of the store to take a photo. I rarely wear the sweatshirt anymore but this photo reminds me of the fun memories that me and my friends had in the past.

# data[].attributes.headline
The summer of 2019 was a pretty good summer, all things considered. That summer, my family went to Ireland, a country with abundant natural beauty and rich historical culture. Anyway, I'm walking down O'Connell Street, the main drag in Dublin, past beautiful architectural masterpieces, and I see a bunch of seagulls fly away. I don't think much of it until a couple seconds later when I feel something liquidy on top of my head. I was freaking out. Had one of these stupid birds crapped on my head? How was I gonna figure out? I knew that if I asked my family if I had a big bird bomb on my head, they would make fun of me. Quickly running out of options, I took a picture of the top of my head. I opened camera roll with dread, hoping not to see what I thought was there. Luckily, my head was fine. It was an over reaction. But at least I have a nice photo of it.

# data[].attributes.subject
The summer of 2019 was a pretty good summer, all things considered. That summer, my family went to Ireland, a country with abundant natural beauty and rich historical culture. Anyway, I'm walking down O'Connell Street, the main drag in Dublin, past beautiful architectural masterpieces, and I see a bunch of seagulls fly away. I don't think much of it until a couple seconds later when I feel something liquidy on top of my head. I was freaking out. Had one of these stupid birds crapped on my head? How was I gonna figure out? I knew that if I asked my family if I had a big bird bomb on my head, they would make fun of me. Quickly running out of options, I took a picture of the top of my head. I opened camera roll with dread, hoping not to see what I thought was there. Luckily, my head was fine. It was an over reaction. But at least I have a nice photo of it.

# data[].attributes.body
Every year I spend the summer at overnight camp. I look forward to it all year because I have a lot of fun and get to hang out with my best friends for seven weeks. This year was especially exciting because I was going to be in the oldest age group. Since my first day as a nine year old camper, I was told this would be the best summer ever. However, camp was cancelled. I was really upset and began to dread the summer. A few weeks later, I found a camping trip and an opportunity to be a CIT at a day camp. I was a little reluctant at first to sign up for them, since it wasn’t going to be the same as being at my overnight camp, but I did. Although I missed camp, it was a great summer! I tried new things, made new friends, and created unforgettable memories. I’m so glad I took a risk, as it turned out to be one of my best summers ever.

# data[].attributes.body
Summer 2019 was the best summer I’ve ever had. I saw my friends almost every day, spending hours with them just hanging out and enjoying the warm weather. On top of that, I also travelled to Florida, going back for the first time in two years. It was nice to see my Floridian family after so long, especially my cousin Isabella. We spent the mornings at the beach and the afternoons and evenings with family - having dinner together, playing ping pong and billiard, going out to a dinner and a show, and just enjoying each other’s company.  On the flight back home to Massachusetts, I saw the vividest, reddest, warmest sunrise I’ve ever seen. I took a photo to capture the moment because I knew I’d want to remember the sunrise forever. Even though I had to be up insanely early, seeing the sunrise made it okay and was the perfect ending to my vacation in Florida. After Florida, there was still a long summer to go, which was full of spending time with my friends.

# data[].attributes.body
A few years ago, my hockey team qualified for the league championship tournament because we were near the top of the division standings. We worked really hard in the weeks leading up to the tournament, making sure that everyone was putting in the effort and being encouraged. If we lost a game, we would be out of the tournament. We worked really hard throughout the season and it paid off. When we won the league championship, we were all so excited.

# data[].attributes.body
This photo was taken when my dogs first became friendly with each other. Sammy which is the dog on the left was very aggressive when he was a puppy and always wanted to play with Teddy who was the golden (dog). Teddy was already 5 by the time Sammy was brought home and he was very relaxed. He did not want to play with Sammy, but they eventually had to get along. Now that they have acclimated to each other they both get along and they are great friends. They also sleep with each other in the same bed every night. It is adorable.

# data[].attributes.body
This photo was taken when my dogs first became friendly with each other. Sammy which is the dog on the left was very aggressive when he was a puppy and always wanted to play with Teddy who was the golden (dog). Teddy was already 5 by the time Sammy was brought home and he was very relaxed. He did not want to play with Sammy, but they eventually had to get along. Now that they have acclimated to each other they both get along and they are great friends. They also sleep with each other in the same bed every night. It is adorable.

# data[].attributes.body
In 2016 one of my good friends passed away due to cancer at the age of 11. I made it a priority to keep his memory and strength alive. I have done many different fundraisers and participated in different events to honor him, but the thing that I helped do that I was most proud of was getting the renovated east school park named after him. It was a perfect idea when his family had come up with it, and I wanted to support it fully so I went to a town board meeting to help support this idea that would be presented to the board. It was unanimously agreed that it would be a perfect name, as my friend had gone to this park a lot as a kid. A couple years pass and the park looks brand new, and it was dedicated to him on Sunday, September 20th, and I was proud to be one of the people to embrace the idea from the getco.

# data[].attributes.body
Going to the beach has always been one of of my favorite things to do. For me there's nothing better than spending time with friends and family on endless stretches of sand watching the water which looks as if it goes on forever. Two years ago my family and I went to Ogunquit, Maine over the Fourth of July. I remember the beach which at low tide allowed you to walk into what felt like the middle of the ocean. I got to spend a lot of time with my family and we enjoyed relaxing on the beach for a week straight with perfect weather every day. We also got to watch the incredible firework displays  which they launched across the coast for the 4th. In all it was an unforgettable experience and I hope to return their soon.

# data[].attributes.body
For the longest time it was very difficult to connect with my grandparents. None of them can speak English very well, and English is all I know. As a result, communication was done solely through actions. My grandmother on my dad's side makes really good dumplings and meat buns. She is very eager to make them for the rest of the family, and always does so with a great smile on her face. Although she lives across the country, her food will always taste like home. She has inspired me to learn how to make the same foods she does, and while what I make will never be as good as hers, I aspire to be able to transcend words the way she does.

# data[].attributes.body
The person who inspires me the most in the world is my dad.  He was able to go to Tufts, as well as their medical school for the latter paying by taking out loans. I very much respect him for choosing a career as challenging as this one coming from not as much money as many others. Now as an associate professor, soon to be professor (as soon as he fills out the paperwork) he works at Tufts Medical Center and frequents DC to meet with important people such as various senators and representatives for the United States Government. He has inspired me due to his motivation, determination, and intellect and I hope to be just like him just maybe not a doctor.

# data[].attributes.body
About eight years ago when I was eight years old. My family had been in America for two years. my mom used to work at a pharmacy in Action, MA. She didn’t get home till nine pm. My dad worked in another pharmacy owned by the same people. He didn’t get home till eleven pm. I used to go to my grandma’s house everyday from three to nine. I would do my homework and try to figure out a way to pass the remaining hours. My grandpa used to sit and talk to me. He told me stories about his time in Iraq and what he did for a living over there. He used to teach me math and lessons he’s learned throughout his life. We used to pass a lot of time talking together. Sadly, in the coming two years he got very sick. He passed away in 2012. I will always remember what my grandpa taught me and apply it to my own life. He is by far the most influential person in my life.

# data[].attributes.headline
The most influential person or pet in this case is my dog, Max. He is a small poodle mix that has been with me my entire life, acting as my center of release from bad mojo. The happiest part of my life was definitely when my family got him. As I recall  my sister, brother, mom, and dad were all sitting in the green lawn well this little energetic  buzz of a puppy ran around us casually stopping to lay in our laps. He is now 10. This was back when I was 5 years old. 

# data[].attributes.subject
The most influential person or pet in this case is my dog, Max. He is a small poodle mix that has been with me my entire life, acting as my center of release from bad mojo. The happiest part of my life was definitely when my family got him. As I recall  my sister, brother, mom, and dad were all sitting in the green lawn well this little energetic  buzz of a puppy ran around us casually stopping to lay in our laps. He is now 10. This was back when I was 5 years old. 

# data[].attributes.body
A hobby that I have had ever since I was young was rock climbing. My aunt got me into it when I was 8. We went a lot then but not recently. I got back into climbing when I saw there was a club for it at school. We met every friday and every time I got better and better. Sadly right before we started quarantine I completed a set that was similar to the picture below. I was very proud of myself and I've been wanting to do it since. That set is known as a sloper. The grip this man has is on his left hand is why. Theres no easy grip to it, you need to find the right angle to either balance on or push yourself off of. There are different levels while bouldering. This is what he is doing and there is another type called bellaying but that isn't as much fun. Each gym has a different way of ranking sets. The lowest is a B, then V0 and goes up to V10. On average for me I can complete V3's with ease and most V4's, but this was my most difficult set yet. Which is why, completing that V5 is one of my happiest moments.

# data[].attributes.body
I have spent as long as I can remember on stage in the spotlight. From cheerleading competitions to roles in the local production of a small play all eyes were always on me, and I loved it. I loved the post show feeling of seeing all my "fans" and the accomplishment that ran from my toes to the top of my bow as I was a first place trophy. Of course I was nervous, even the most experienced performers get nervous before a performance or so they say. Once I hit middle school though, things started to change. It was slow at first but I could still feel it every time I took the stage. The parts got more competitive and the kids got meaner. Everything bubbled up until one final performance where I took my last bow. I was in a part that I knew was not great for I tried to enjoy it anyway. By closing night I dreaded everytime I went on stage. That night I stepped out of the spotlight and never stepped in. I miss the stage, I really do. I find myself singing show tunes or thinking about when I loved the stage although now one of my biggest fears would be going back and it not being the same as when I left. So for now, I will stay in the audience and admire my friends that are still so talented. I hope one day to get my confidence back and go back to the stage so I can once again get a feeling of fulfilment after a successful show weekend.

# data[].attributes.body
One of the happiest times in my life was at Camp Greylock last August. I went to CFC, a camp that my friend and her family had been going to for years. That one week in August was the highlight of my entire summer. There was just a sense of community there that I hadn't seen anywhere else. Even though I was only with everyone for one week, it felt like I had known them for years. I instantly clicked with everyone, and they're like a second family to me. The image below captures the infamous shaving cream fight after Carnival. There are so many other quirky traditions that CFC has that makes the camp so special. Camp Greylock is in a remote part of Becket, Massachusetts. Being in the heart of nature and away from my typically busy life was incredibly refreshing - like a breath of fresh air. That week was a week of sheer bliss. In retrospect, inserting myself into a new environment where everyone had known each other for years was an invaluable experience for me to learn about myself and how I can associate with others. CFC couldn't happen due to the pandemic, but I'm looking forward to another amazing week next year.

# data[].attributes.body
Although my dog Kody may look like a puppy, he is already five. The day we picked him up from the breeder was definitely one of the happiest days of my life. We decided that we wanted a dog over the summer and found a breeder with a litter of King Charles Cavalier puppies. We were late to pick, so we ended up getting the runt of the litter, or the smallest dog. We didn't think anything of it at that moment, and I'm glad that didn't stop us because Kody is the perfect size for our family. My dad, sister, and I went to pick him up from the breeder on a Sunday in September. We showed up at the house and walked inside to the sound of little squeals. The puppies were only eight weeks old at the time, so we got to watch Kody grow and develop from that point on, which was really cool. He was the size of a teacup dog when we were at the breeder's house and he instantly brought so much joy to my sister and I. My favorite part of the day though was when we brought him home and introduced him to my mom and other sister who couldn't come to the breeder. We knew he was the perfect fit for our family and we ended up playing with him the entire day.

# data[].attributes.body
My moms side of the family always went to Cape May New Jersey every two years for a reunion. I always look forward to seeing my aunts, uncles, and cousins that are from Connecticut, Maryland, and Australia. We participate in family olympics and have plastic medals that we hand out at the end. We have gone the Cape May ever since I was about  8. The waves are always huge, mini golf is always played, and the arcade is gone to every night. We rent a huge house for all 24 of us to stay in. We compete in corn hole, cribbage, kanjam, and trivia. There is always friendly competition between everyone and it is such an amazing experience. Last time we went my aunt got engaged and my grandparents renewed their vows. It is always special to be with my family and I hope we get to g next year.

# data[].attributes.body
One of the happiest moments that I can remember was back in February of this year. For about a year and a half before that, I had been competing in congressional debate on the Natick Speech and Debate team, and on that day, there was a speech and debate tournament to qualify for the national tournament. I was only a sophomore, and I was competing for one of five spots against my own teammates and debaters from other schools. In the end, I ended up placing third and qualifying for nationals along with four other seniors from my school. But the reason I remember that day as being so happy wasn't because of my ranking or speeches that day. It wasn't because of who qualified. There are many other tournaments where I have ranked well, even better, so this was just another ordinary tournament. But the reason I remember that day was because of the sense of community and friendship I was left with. The four seniors who had qualified with me had been mentoring me for my entire speech career. They were some of the most dedicated, hard working people I knew and had debated with each other for two years prior to me even starting. Yet on that day, they made me feel welcome in their little "group," each reaching out to me to tell me that they were proud of how I did, and couldn't wait to go to nationals together. And in the end, when I think back to that day, I can't remember anything that was debated or said during rounds. I barely even remember the awards ceremony where the rankings were announced. What I remember most clearly was having fun afterwards with my teammates, and what amazing people they are, who I'm lucky to have met.

# data[].attributes.body
Naturally, most humans take the luxuries in their lives for granted until they lose them. For me, losing the ability to practice with my teammates during these upcoming two weeks has been tough. Prior to now, I never realized how lucky I am to have such supportive, uplifting, and kind-hearted teammates who are nothing but encouraging even during the most challenging of workouts. Whenever I ran by on the track, I would be greeted with smiling faces cheering me on. The ability to be with others and sympathize with people who are going through the same mentally challenging workout is a game-changer. We forget about the important role that our peers play in making us better people until they are no longer present. Although it is more challenging to get through workouts without my amazing teammates by my side, I know that they are with me in spirit. During this time where I have to train without my teammates, it is more challenging to find motivation. Yet, I know that my team is counting on me to continue training so that after this we can come back even stronger than we were before (mentally and physically), and crush our first meet of the season.  

# data[].attributes.body
Every year since 2013, I have been going to a sleep away summer camp for 7 weeks. This summer was supposed to be my final summer, but because of Covid, it was canceled. All of my friends and I were devastated, we have been looking forward to this summer for the past 7 years. After finally accepting that we couldn’t have our amazing summer, we decided that instead of just being sad about the situation, we were still going to find a way to still see each other and still make the best of our time together. Since we live all over the world, not everyone could become a part of our plan. We have a girl from Spain, and unfortunately she couldn’t join us, but the rest of us decided to take a trip to Connecticut and rent out a house for a week. There were 11 of us that stayed there for a week. It was amazing to see my other friends from Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Florida. We ended up having an awesome week and a great time just being back with each other. Even though we couldn’t go to camp like we usually do, my friends and I still made the best of our summer and had fun in our own special way.

# data[].attributes.body
Ever since I was a little girl, I've begged my parents for a pet cat. Cats have always been one of my favorite animals. With their cute little faces and fluffy fur, how could I resist? There was just one problem: both my mother and I were allergic, and my father was just not a fan of cats. But I persisted, and finally, on my seventeenth birthday, my parents caved. I was finally going to get my cat. I thought a cat would help me destress, be less anxious, calm my mind. But as adoption day arrived, my anxiety spiraled. What if the kitten doesn't like me? What if she gets scared? What if we don't care for her properly? Millions of questions swirled in my head. The first few days were the hardest. I was scared to leave my kitten alone, scared to leave the house. Scared of giving her the wrong amount of food, scared I'd lose her in my cluttered room. I knew I'd do nothing wrong, but I couldn't help but worry I would accidentally cause her harm. What I thought would've been the happiest few days of my life had become a nervous hell. But the more time I spent with my kitten, the more my anxiety eased. We took naps together. We played everyday after school. She slept in my lap while I was in class, waking up with a big yawn and stretch when I stood up. Though the beginning of our time together was difficult, I love my kitten, and I wouldn't have her any other way.

# data[].attributes.body
I have always been too timid and self-conscious to perform in front of people, let alone large, live audiences. Hence, when I decided to give theatre a try, I gravitated towards the tech side, the enthralling behind-the-scenes work that allowed a school stage to be transformed into a London neighborhood or a fully furnished living room. In middle school, I was one of the only kids who was in crew. While I loved what I did, I always felt separated from the kids performing on stage. When high school started, my classes' rigor increased, and I decided to stop being involved in theatre. It was good to have more time to focus on schoolwork, but, as time went on, I heard about the wonderful experiences people had with the NHS Theatre program and saw how amazing the shows were, and I began regretting my decision to leave theatre. Luckily, one of my friends encouraged me to re-involve myself with the program, assuring that it wasn't too late to start again, and I took her advice. Reflecting back, I genuinely believe it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Through theatre, I have gained some of my closest friends and have found a place to be my most authentic self. I have also been able to pursue my passions as far as becoming the Head of Lighting for Natick High. I have made unforgettable memories through the theatre program and learned so many valuable lessons. Unfortunately, when school closed due to COVID, the last in-person show of the year was canceled, at least in terms of crew. This was my last chance to work with my senior crew mentors and practice my skills before taking on the Head role. Further, the shows for this year are on hiatus, which I was greatly looking forward to. However, I am thankful for all the fantastic opportunities I've already had and I am hopeful for the future! I am so grateful to be part of this community and know it will be an impactful part of my life, no matter what form it takes on during these crazy COVID times.

# data[].attributes.body
When I was younger, we would go to Naples, Florida every year. We would go to the beach everyday and collect the coolest seashells that we could find on the sand and in the water. My sister and I would look for the most unique ones, walking along the beach and digging them up in the sand. They would be of all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors. We put them in plastic bags and sealed them up tight so that they wouldn’t fall out. Then, we would hide them in our suitcases and bring them home with us. They would always end up stashed away somewhere in our house, but ever so often, we would find them again. We would smell the scent of saltwater, and it would bring me back to the happiest days of my life - at the beach where I didn't have to worry about a thing. Even though we don’t go to Naples anymore, I still can remember this memory very vividly. It’s a reminder that everything will always turn out okay and that there are happy days to look forward to when things do get hard.